Tad Hills (born April 1, 1963, in Needham, Massachusetts) is an American children's book author and illustrator.

[5] A sequel, Rocket Writes a Story, was published to similar acclaim, debuting at #1 on the New York Times Best Seller list and named as a top picture book of the year by Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Publishers Weekly, and School Library Journal.

His mother, a 4th-grade science teacher, inspired his love of nature by frequently bringing home animals (including raccoons, owls, and other wild creatures).

"I come from a long line of engineers on both sides, so my interest in making things almost feels like it could be genetic", Hills has said.

He states, however, that his greatest educational experience has been raising his children: "Spending time with my kids helps me remember what it's like to be a child.